Movable feed floor for a cotton harvester

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for harvesting cotton including a cotton accumulator configured to accumulate cotton removed from cotton plants. A feeder system of a cotton harvester is configured to move independently of the cotton accumulator and along a longitudinal direction. A round module builder system is configured to move along the longitudinal direction toward the feeder system, wherein the round module builder includes a contact member adapted to contact the feeder system to establish a working gap between the feeder system and the round module builder. A wrap floor is moved toward and into contact with the feeder system, which is spring biased to maintain a substantially consistent gap between the between the feeder system and round module builder. Cotton is directed toward the round module builder and a directing mechanism directs a wrap for wrapping the directed cotton into a round module.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to a harvesting machine, andmore particularly to a system and method for a cotton harvestingmachine.

BACKGROUND

Agricultural equipment, such as a tractor or a self-propelled harvester,includes mechanical systems, electrical systems, hydraulic systems, andelectro-hydraulic systems, configured to prepare fields for planting orto harvest crops.

When harvesting cotton, for instance, cotton from cotton plants ispicked by a mobile cotton harvester, which includes a header thatengages the cotton plant to remove the cotton from the field. Theremoved cotton is delivered to a relatively large basket which receivesand holds the harvested cotton. The basket area is called an accumulatorwhich accumulates a sufficient amount of cotton before being deliveredto a baler or module builder. Many known cotton harvester basketsinclude apparatus for distributing and compacting the cotton to someextent, primarily to increase the amount of cotton which can be held inthe accumulator.

Mobile cotton harvesters are often self-propelled cotton harvestingmachines which typically come in two forms, namely a cotton strippervehicle and a cotton picker vehicle. The cotton stripper is designed toremove the cotton bolls entirely, into the machine.

A cotton picker, on the other hand, “picks” the mature cotton from thebolls, typically by using revolving spindles. Cotton pickers leave thecotton plant and unopened bolls, intact, such that a given field can beharvested more than once during a growing season.

Once a sufficient amount of cotton has been collected in theaccumulator, the cotton is delivered to a cotton feeder system which inturn delivers the cotton to a module builder system. The feed systemincludes a conveyor belt to move cotton from the accumulator to an inputof module builder system. The module builder system, upon receipt of thepicked cotton from the feeding system, compresses the cotton intomodules. Once compressed and wrapped, the packaged cotton is removedfrom the module builder system and delivered to a handler. The handlercarries the packaged cotton until the operator decides to discharge it.

In different types of self-propelled cotton harvesters, which includethe module builder system, there is a gap or space, between the outputof the feeding system and the input to the module builder system. Therelationship between the feeding system conveyor belt and the modulebuilder system is critical. When the gap is too small, the feed conveyorcan impede the wrap, resulting in an unwrapped module. When the gap istoo large, excessive cotton loss during the feeding cycle can occur. Indifferent types of the cotton harvesters, this gap is manuallyadjustable by the operator or user to set the gap. Once set, however,the gap is fixed to a set distance. Adjustment of the size of the gap isdifficult, since the size of the gap is not only difficult to measure,but is also difficult to adjust in the known systems.

What is needed therefore is system and method to determine and to adjustthe size of the gap between the feeder system and the module buildersystem.

SUMMARY

A movable feeder system is disclosed to optimize a gap between thefeeder system and the module builder system and to insure the module isproperly wrapped.

In one embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided a method ofbuilding a round module with a cotton harvesting machine having afeeding system and a round module builder including a wrap floor. Themethod includes: advancing the wrap floor toward and into contact withthe feeding system; moving the feeding system in response to theadvancing wrap floor; directing cotton from the feeding system to theround module builder; and wrapping the directed cotton into a roundmodule.

In another embodiment, there is provided a cotton harvester including acotton accumulator configured to accumulate cotton removed from cottonplants. The cotton harvester includes a feeder system configured to moveindependently of the cotton accumulator and along a longitudinaldirection. A wrap floor is configured to move along the longitudinaldirection toward the feeder system, wherein the wrap floor includes acontact member adapted to contact the feeder system to establish aworking gap between the feeder system and the wrap floor.

In still another embodiment, there is provided a work vehicle forharvesting cotton. The work vehicle includes a cotton accumulatorconfigured to accumulate cotton removed from cotton plants to provide around cotton module bound with a wrap. The work vehicle includes arolling feeder structure configured to move independently of the cottonaccumulator and to move along a longitudinal direction. A wrap floor isconfigured to move toward and away from the rolling feeder structure.The wrap floor includes a contact member adapted to contact the feederstructure to establish a working gap between the wrap floor and therolling feeder structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned aspects of the present disclosure and the manner ofobtaining them will become more apparent and the disclosure itself willbe better understood by reference to the following description of theembodiments of the disclosure, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a work vehicle, and morespecifically, of an agricultural vehicle such as a cotton harvestingmachine;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a cotton accumulator, a feedersystem, and round module builder;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the feeder system;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a portion of the feeder system andthe round module builder;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a portion of the round modulebuilder;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cam plate and a cam follower in afirst position;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of cam plate, a cam follower, and alower round module builder roller in a first position;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of cam plate, a cam follower, and alower round module builder roller in a second position; and

FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of the feeder system including anelectrical connector and a tone wheel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of thenovel disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodimentsdescribed herein and illustrated in the drawings and specific languagewill be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understoodthat no limitation of the scope of the novel disclosure is therebyintended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrateddevices and methods, and such further applications of the principles ofthe novel disclosure as illustrated therein being contemplated as wouldnormally occur to one skilled in the art to which the novel disclosurerelates.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an agricultural vehicle, and moreparticularly a cotton picker baler 10, including a frame 12 supported ona pair of front wheels 14 and a set of rear wheels 16. An operator cab18 is mounted on the frame 12 and contains various controls for thevehicle 10 so as to be within the reach of a seated or standingoperator. In one aspect, these controls may include a steering wheel anda control console including a display as would be understood by oneskilled in the art. An engine 20 is mounted on the frame 12 beneath ahousing and supplies power for driven components of the tractor 10. Theengine 20, for example, is configured to drive a transmission (notshown), which is coupled to drive the front wheels 14 at variousselected speeds and either in forward or reverse modes. In otherembodiments, the rear set of wheels is driven to move the harvester, orall of the wheels are driven in an all-wheel drive configuration to movethe harvester 10.

While the described embodiments are discussed with reference to aharvester, in addition to addition to agricultural vehicles, other workvehicles are contemplated including construction vehicles, forestryvehicles, lawn maintenance vehicles, as well as on-road vehicles such asthose used to plow snow, spread salt, or vehicles with towingcapability.

The cab 18 defines an operator workstation including a seat, which issupported by the frame 12. The operator workstation, in differentembodiments, includes one or more of an operator user interface,steering wheel, a joystick, and an accelerator pedal. Pedals for a brakeand a clutch are also located in the cabin 18, but are not shown.

The user interface includes a plurality of operator selectable buttonsconfigured to enable the operator to control the operation and functionof the tractor 10. The user interface, in one embodiment, includes auser interface screen or display having a plurality of user selectablebuttons to select from a plurality of commands or menus, each of whichare selectable through a touch screen having a display. In anotherembodiment, the user interface includes a plurality of mechanical pushbuttons as well as a touch screen. In another embodiment, the userinterface includes a display screen and only mechanical push buttons.

The cotton picker baler 10 further includes a header 22, the position ofwhich is adjustable with respect to the frame 12. The header 22 removescotton from cotton growing in a field as the work machine 10 moves in aforward direction. A hopper 24 receives the picked cotton where it isstored in sufficient quantity to enable a round module builder 26 tobale the cotton in a round module 28. Cotton 30 leaves the hopper 24 andmoves into a baler zone where it is compressed and baled into the roundmodule 28. Once a module 28 is complete, a door 32 is opened where themodule 28 exits from the baler and onto a bale handler 34. The balehandler 34 is positionable between a relatively upright position 34A anda relatively horizontal position 34B. An end 36 moves to a positiontoward the ground where the bale falls for later processing.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the hopper 24 which is disposedadjacently to a feeder and accumulator 40 which accumulates the cotton30 from the hopper 24 and which feeds the accumulated cotton to a modulebuilder 42 further described with respect to FIG. 5. In one embodiment,the module builder 42 is a round module builder. Other configurations ofthe module builder are contemplated. The feeder and accumulator 40 islocated adjacent to and above a main chassis structure 44 which includesa frame 46 configured to support four meter rolls 48 which are supportedfor rotation by the meter roll support 49. The frame 46 also supports afirst beater roll 50 and a second beater roll 52. The four meter rolls48 and the beater rolls 50 and 52 prepare the accumulated cotton aswould be understood by those skilled in the art to process the cotton 30for making the module 28.

The prepared cotton is metered onto a feed conveyor belt 54, which ispart of a feed conveyor system 56. The feed conveyor belt 54 collectsand moves the processed cotton toward the module builder 42. The belt 54is a continuous belt which moves about front and rear rollers (notshown) which are rotatably supported by a first side member 58 and asecond side member 60, each of which extends from the frame 46 toward awrap floor 62, which is part of the module builder 42. A feederstructure 63, which includes the first side member 58, the second sidemember 60, and the belt 54, is movable along a longitudinal direction 64toward and away from the wrap floor 62 along a first track 66 and asecond track (not shown) on an opposite side of the feed conveyor system56. In one embodiment, the first and second tracks are fixedly coupledto the chassis of the work machine 10 and are also fixed with respect tothe frame 46. The feeder structure 63 is configured to move with respectto the feeder and accumulator 40 during operation of the vehicle 10without intervention by a user or operator. The feeder and accumulator40 is stationary and fixed to the chassis of the vehicle, such that thefeeder structure moves with respect to the feeder and accumulator 40during production of a cotton module.

The feeder structure 63 includes a front wheel 67 and a rear wheel 68,both of which are rotatably coupled to the first side member 58. Each ofthe front wheel 66 and rear wheel 68 include a groove which engages thefirst track 66. The second side member 60 also includes a front wheel(not shown) having a groove wherein the wheel is transversely locatedfrom the front wheel 67. A rear wheel (not shown) having a groove istransversely located from the rear wheel 68. Each of the wheels 66, 68,and corresponding wheels at the second side member 60 provide fourpoints of rolling support for the feed structure 63 on the first andsecond tracks.

As seen in FIG. 3, the first side member 58 rotatably supports the rearwheel 68 at an axis 70 about which the wheel 68 freely rotates. Achannel 72 defined in the wheel 68 engages a top side of the track 66which includes an upper curved portion 74 configured to engage thechannel 72. The channel 72 and the upper portion 74 are configured in acomplementary fashion such that the wheel 68 stays on the track 66 forlongitudinal rolling movement of the feeder structure 63 withoutexcessive lateral movement. Each of the remaining wheels, in oneembodiment, is similarly configured to provide rolling movement alongthe corresponding tracks without undesirable lateral movement.

While the feed structure 63 moves longitudinally along the tracks,movement of feed structure 63 is restrained by a bias structure 76 thatlimits movement of the feed structure along the longitudinal direction64. The bias structure 76 includes a bias frame 78 which is fixedlycoupled to the first side member 58. The bias frame 78 supports a rod 80having a first end 82 fixedly coupled to the frame 78 and a second end84 which extends through an aperture of an arm 86 generally transverselyextending from the longitudinal axis of the rod 80. The second end 84slidingly engages the aperture of the arm 86. The rod 80 extends througha biasing member, such as a spring 88, which is captured on the rod 80between the arm 86 and an end bracket 90 of the bias frame 78 where therod 80 is fixed.

While the arm 86 is movable along the length of the rod 80, an end 92 ofthe arm 86 is fixed at a desirable location along a guide rod 94, whichis fixedly coupled to a chassis bracket 96. As seen in FIG. 2, thechassis bracket 96 supports both ends of the guide rod 94.

The spring 88 is a compression spring which biases the feed structure 63toward the wrap floor 62. The amount of bias is determined by thelocation of the end 92 along the length of the guide rod 94. Thelocation of the arm 86 is adjusted until a desired compression of thespring 88, and consequently, a spring force of the spring 88, is set ata length of the spring 88. Once established, the end 92 of the arm isfixed at the desired location by a stop, such as a set screw. The springtension of the spring 88 opposes any force applied by the wrap floorthat tends to move the feed structure 63 longitudinally toward theaccumulator 40. In addition, the spring 88 is configured to resist theforce of the cotton conveyed along the top of the feeder structure,since the amount of cotton conveyed by the feeder structure changes.

The bias structure 76 further includes a travel limiter 100 which limitsthe travel that the floor moves due to the force of the spring 88. Thetravel limiter 100 includes a pin 102 that extends through the endbracket 90 and into a slot 104 located in the first track 66. Each endof the slot determines a maximum longitudinal distance over which thefeed structure 63 moves. Pin 102 extends through a spring 106 which isheld in place by sides of the bracket 90. Should the feeder structure 63require removal, for instance during maintenance or cleaning, the pin102 is disengaged from the bracket 90. The spring 106 maintainsengagement of the pin 102 during normal operations. When the operatorneeds to remove the feed structure for service, the pin 102 is pulled,which compresses the spring 106, to disengage the pin 102 and to enabledisengagement of the feed structure 63. Once the pins 102 are pulledfrom both sides of the feed structure 63 and the rods 94 are releasedfrom the arm 86, the feed structure 63 is movable along the tracks 66.Once freed, movement of the feed structure 63 to the right asillustrated in FIG. 2 defines an opening to provide access to the engine20 and other devices or structure for repair, maintenance orreplacement.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2, the feed structure 63 moves adistance to the right such that the roller 67 moves to near or at theformer illustrated location of the roller 68. In one embodiment, one ormore rollers, not illustrated, are coupled to the feed structure 63 andlocated beneath the tracks 66 such that the free end of the feedstructure does not fall or dip excessively when extended.

The feed structure 63 is biased toward the wrap floor 62 in FIG. 2 toengage certain structures of the module builder 42 as furtherillustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. FIGS. 4 and 5 both illustrate an oppositeside of the feed structure 63 and wrap floor 62 when compared to FIGS. 2and 3. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the feed structure 63, which is biasedto the left as illustrated, includes a roller 110 which engages a camplate 112 rotatably coupled to the wrap floor 62. The wrap floor 62 isconfigured, as described later herein, to move toward and away from thefeed structure 63. As the wrap floor 62 moves toward the feed structure63, the cam plate 112, which is operatively connected to the wrap floor62, contacts the roller 110 and moves the feed structure 63 to the rightas illustrated. The bias structure 76, which is biases the feedstructure 63 toward the wrap floor 62, provides a predetermined fixeddistance, or gap, between the wrap floor 62 and the feed structure 63such that wrapping of the cotton module is improved. The wheel 110functions as a cam follower, such that as the wrap floor 62 moves towardthe roller 110, the cam plate 112 moves in an upward direction asillustrated, as inclination of the swing arms 120 and 122 change. Theroller 110 is rotatably coupled to the second side member 60 though aroller bracket 114. The various parts of FIG. 4 have been identifiedwith element number of like parts shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The cam plate 112 is fixedly coupled to a cam plate support 116 which isfixedly coupled to a bar 118 which extends from one side of the wrapfloor 62 to another side of the wrap floor 62. (See FIG. 2). Each end ofthe bar 118 is rotatably coupled to a swing arm 120 and 122. A firstgate roller support 124 and a second gate roller support 126 are alsorespectively coupled to the swing arms 120 and 122 and include aperturesconfigured to support a lower gate roller 128 of FIG. 4. A bracket 127is coupled to the side 60 and is configured to support a drive motor 129of FIG. 2. The drive motor 129 is configured to move the belt 54.

In another embodiment, an actuator (not shown), such as a hydrauliccylinder or electric actuator, moves the feed structure 63 without thewrap floor 62 contacting the feed structure. In this embodiment, a wrapcycle is made as follows: i) a controller signals the actuator to movethe feeder assembly or feed structure towards the front of the machine;ii) the controller then engages the wrap floor, feeds a wrap, anddisengages the wrap floor as described; and iii) after all of the wrapis fed into the chamber, the controller moves the feeder assembly backto the cotton feeding position before it starts another feeding, modulebuilding cycle.

As further illustrated in FIG. 5, the wrap floor 62 includes wrap floorframe supports 130 (See also FIG. 2) which provides support for a wrapfloor belt 132, which is located beneath a round module builder belt 133which moves along the wrap floor belt 132, the lower gate roller 128, anupper gate roller 134, as would be understood by those skilled in theart. The wrap floor 62 moves generally longitudinally along the lengthof the work vehicle 10 in response to an actuator 156. A wrap is movedbetween the wrap floor belt 132 and the module builder belt to wrap thecotton to provide a cotton module.

The wrap floor 62 is configured to move longitudinally as well as torotate about a four bar linkage having a first axis of rotation 140, asecond axis of rotation 142, a third axis of rotation 144, and a fourthaxis of rotation 146. The first axis of rotation 140 is located at oneend of a bar 148 which is rotatably coupled to a stationary frame member150. The second axis of rotation is located at another end of the bar148. The third axis of rotation 144 is located at one end of a bar 152rotatably coupled to a frame member 154. The fourth axis of rotation 146is located at another end of the bar 152 which also identifies arotation axis of the swing arm 122.

The swing arm 122 extends from the axis 146 to the bar 118 and iscoupled to an actuator 156 which is coupled to a fixed bracket 158.Movement of the actuator 156 engages and disengages cam plate 112 andthus the wrap floor 62, with the roller 110 and thus the feederstructure 63.

In one embodiment, the actuator 156 is a hydraulic actuator which iscoupled to a valve (not shown), the function of which is controlled by acontroller, such as a processor device, which when instructed, moves thehydraulic cylinder to start a wrap cycle. The controller includes amemory configured to store program instructions and the processor deviceis configured to execute the stored program instructions to adjust theposition of the hydraulic cylinder.

Movement of the wrap floor 62, which includes the frame supports 130, isgenerally along a longitudinal axis defined by the plane of the belt132. The link 122, however, moves in both a longitudinal direction aswell as an upward or inclined direction with the lower gate roller 128due to its four bar linkage configuration. The actuator 156 pushes thelink 122, and consequently the cam plate 112 forward to the engagedposition illustrated in FIG. 4. When the wrap is completed, the actuator156 pulls the cam plate 112 to a disengaged position and the wrap floor62 returns to the position illustrated in FIG. 7.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the bar 118 also supports a plurality of wrapfingers 160 which are fixedly coupled to and extend from the bar 118.When the cam plate 112 contacts the roller 110, upward movement of thecam plate 112 directs the wrap finger 160 upwardly as well.

FIG. 6 illustrates a partial perspective view of an initial position ofthe cam plate 112 positioned to engage the roller 110 at a firstposition. In this position, the wrap floor 62 has moved toward thefeeder structure 63. This figure illustrates the side of the wrap floor62 in FIG. 2. The lower gate roller 128 is not illustrated to show aplurality of wrap support fingers 162.

In FIG. 7, the cam plate 112 of FIG. 4 is illustrated to engage theroller 110, which is not shown. The belt 133 is driven around the lowergate roller 128 in a clockwise direction as illustrated. The feedconveyor belt 54 moves by a roller 164 in a clockwise direction asillustrated, such that the cotton is moved toward the lower gate roller128. In this position, the wrap floor 62 is in a rearwardmost positionand a lowermost position such that a distance between an axis 166 of theroller 164 and an axis 168 of a floor roller 170 is at its greatest.

As the wrap floor 62 is driven toward the feeder structure 63, the wrapfloor 62 moves in an upward direction at the same time due to theconfiguration of the four bar linkage. The wrap floor 62 moves withrespect to the lower gate roller, which is fixed with respect to thechassis. In this configuration, the top surface of the feeder belt 54generally defines a plane which is aligned with a rotational axis 171 ofthe module builder roller 128 as illustrated by the line 172. In thisposition, the wrap fingers 160 have moved to a more vertical position todirect a wrap (not shown) which is used to surround and envelop theround cotton module to produce a transportable bundle of cotton. Thewrap fingers 160 provide a direction mechanism for the wrap to beginwrapping the cotton into the round module.

The wrap fingers 160, in one embodiment, include a length which extendsto the line 172 and defines a transition between an engagement zonebelow the line 172 and a non-engagement zone above the line 172. In thisconfiguration, should the wrap, which is transported between the belt132 and the belt 133, be misaligned or misdirected, the wrap fingers 160provide a directing barrier for the incoming wrap. The wrap is thereforedirected along the fingers 160 where loose cotton directed to the wrapsubstantially insures that the wrap is directed around the belt 133. Atan end 174 of the fingers 160, the wrap is no longer directed by thefingers 160 around the round module builder belt 133. While the lengthof the wrap fingers 160 is shown to extend to the line 172, otherlengths are contemplated, including a length extending short of orfurther than the line 172.

In this position, a working gap is provided between the top surface ofthe belt 172 and a surface of the belt 133 that intersects the line 172.This working gap is substantially maintained during a complete wrappingcycle for completion of one round module, as well as being maintainedfrom one module to the next. Because the feeder structure 63 includesthe bias structure 76, the distance between the feeder structure and thewrap floor 62 held to a relatively consistent gap and as such providesrepeatable wrapping operations.

The gap between the fingers 160 and the lower gate roller 128 ismaintained because the cam plate 112 pivots about the rotational axis ofthe lower gate roller 128. The gap between the wrap belts and the roundmodule builder belts changes on whether the wrap floor 62 is located inan engaged or disengaged position with respect to the feed structure 63.

In addition to insuring that the wrap is properly aligned by directingthe wrap with the fingers 160, the speed at which the cotton is moved bythe belt 154 is monitored. Because proper wrapping of the cotton isdetermined in part by the cotton hitting the wrap after being directedby the fingers, an electrical connector 180 is located on one of thefirst side member or second side member. (See also FIG. 2.) Theelectrical connector is electrically coupled to a tone wheel 182, whichprovides a speed signal of the belt 54. The connector 180 is configuredto receive a plug attached to an electrical cable (not shown) whichprovides the speed signal to a monitoring or control circuit.

As described herein, the work vehicle 10 includes a rolling feedersystem that moves independently of the cotton accumulator. The feedingsystem rolls fore/aft on a track that is fixed to the machine chassis.This track maintains the feeder system's longitudinal and lateralposition. An adjustable spring positions the feeder system against a camthat is attached to the lower gate roller of the round module builder.When the wrap floor engages the feeder system, the feeder system ismoved forward by the cam system to adjust the size of the gap betweenthe feeder system and the lower gate roller of the round module builder.When the wrap system disengages, the adjustable spring would allow thefeeder system to maintain relationship to the cam and return to theposition that optimizes the feeding cycle.

While exemplary embodiments incorporating the principles of the presentdisclosure have been described hereinabove, the present disclosure isnot limited to the described embodiments. Instead, this application isintended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosureusing its general principles. Further, this application is intended tocover such departures from the present disclosure as come within knownor customary practice in the art to which this disclosure pertains andwhich fall within the limits of the appended claims.

1. A method of building a round module with a cotton harvesting machinehaving a feeding system and a round module builder including a wrapfloor, comprising: advancing the wrap floor toward and into contact withthe feeding system; moving the feeding system in response to theadvancing wrap floor; directing cotton from the feeding system to theround module builder; and wrapping the directed cotton into a roundmodule.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the advancing step includesadvancing the wrap floor along a longitudinal direction toward thefeeding system and upon contact with the feeding system advancing thewrap floor is inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction. 3.The method of claim 2 wherein the moving the feeding system stepincludes moving the feeding system along the longitudinal path in thesame longitudinal direction as the wrap floor.
 4. The method of claim 2wherein the moving the feeding system step includes opposinglongitudinal movement of the feeding system in response to contact withthe wrap floor.
 5. The method of claim 2 wherein the advancing the wrapfloor along a path inclined with respect to the longitudinal directionresults from contact of a cam plate of the round module builder with afollower of the feeding system.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein thewrapping step includes adjusting a position of wrap fingers in responseto movement of the wrap floor toward the feeding system.
 7. The methodof claim 1 wherein the moving the feeding system step includes movingthe feeding system along a track.
 8. A cotton harvester including acotton accumulator configured to accumulate cotton removed from cottonplants, the cotton harvester comprising: a feeder system configured tomove independently of the cotton accumulator and along a longitudinaldirection; a wrap floor, configured to move along the longitudinaldirection toward the feeder system, wherein the wrap floor includes acontact member adapted to contact the feeder system to establish aworking gap between the feeder system and the wrap floor.
 9. The cottonharvester of claim 8 further comprising an adjustable gap disposedbetween the feeder system and the wrap floor, wherein the gap is definedby a belt of the feeder system and a gate roller of the round modulebuilder, wherein the belt of the feeder system is configured to move theaccumulated cotton toward the wrap floor and the wrap floor isconfigured to direct a wrap toward the accumulated cotton being moved bythe feeder system.
 10. The cotton harvester of claim 9 furthercomprising a cam follower of the feeder system and a cam of the wrapfloor, wherein movement of the wrap floor toward the feeder system movesthe cam into contact with the cam follower to determine a dimension ofthe adjustable gap.
 11. The cotton harvester of claim 10 wherein thefeeder system includes a feeder structure configured to move along atrack fixed with respect to the accumulator.
 12. The cotton harvester ofclaim 10 wherein the cam includes a rotational axis about which the camrotates, wherein contact of the cam with the cam follower rotates thecam about the rotational axis.
 13. The cotton harvester of claim 10wherein contact of the cam with the cam follower changes the location ofthe feeder system with respect to the longitudinal direction.
 14. Thecotton harvester of claim 10 further comprising wrap fingers operativelyconnected to cam, wherein movement of the cam moves the wrap fingerstoward a lower gate roller.
 15. A work vehicle including a cottonaccumulator configured to accumulate cotton removed from cotton plantsto provide a round cotton module bound with a wrap, the work vehiclecomprising: a rolling feeder structure configured to move independentlyof the cotton accumulator and to move along a longitudinal direction; awrap floor, configured to move toward and away from the rolling feederstructure, wherein the wrap floor includes a contact member adapted tocontact the rolling feeder structure to establish a working gap betweenthe wrap floor and the rolling feeder structure.
 16. The work vehicle ofclaim 15 wherein the contact member includes a cam member and therolling feeder structure includes a cam follower, wherein contact of thecam member with the cam follower determines a size of the working gapbetween the roller feeder structure and the wrap floor.
 17. The workvehicle of claim 15, further comprising a track upon which the rollingfeeder structure moves with respect to the accumulator, the track beingfixed to a chassis of the work vehicle and configured to maintain alateral position of the rolling feeder structure with respect to thechassis.
 18. The work vehicle of claim 17 wherein the rolling feederstructure further comprises an adjustable bias structure configured toresist a force applied to the rolling feeder structure by the wrap floorresulting from the contact member contacting the feeder structure. 19.The work vehicle of claim 18 wherein the contact member includes a cammember and the rolling feeder structure includes a cam follower, whereincontact of the cam member with the cam follower determines a size of theworking gap between the roller feeder structure and the wrap floor. 20.The work vehicle of claim 15 further comprising a track operativelyconnected to the rolling feeder structure, wherein the rolling feederstructure includes a first position on the track to move cotton towardthe wrap floor and a second position on the track to define an openingto provide access to the work vehicle for repair, maintenance, orreplacement.